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Jim Scrivner, the principal at Anchor Lutheran, believes this new technology takes the drudgery out of learning.
“I think it’s fantastic that I’ve got a seventh grade boy that’s excited that he’s doing math,” says Scrivner, who had just received an e-mail from the student thanking the school for the iPads. “And he’s working on the videos that we use at school, but he’s doing it at home too. That’s purely above and beyond.”
Anchor Lutheran is a private school and the cost of the iPads is covered in the tuition. Students can take the iPads home, with the understanding that they must replace them, if they are damaged. They also have the option to buy the iPads at a reduced rate upon their 8th grade graduation.
Scrivner says the iPads will eventually save the school money, because it won’t have to buy textbooks. He concedes there were some start up costs, which include purchasing the iPads and setting-up a system to use them. Scriver also says the school has limited students access to websites that aren’t appropriate.
But Scrivner did load the iPads with educational games.
“I did that on purpose. Because I want them to see the technology not just as, ‘Oh, it’s time to learn.’” Scrivner said. “If it’s in their hands all the time, the more they’re comfortable with it. The more productive they are as well.”
For now, the students are enjoying the novelty of using the iPad and are doing a good job of completing their assignments on it.
“Your homework doesn’t get lost all the time. It’s just in your e-mail,” says Tyler Breitenstein.
Besides, that old excuse, “The dog ate my homework,” won’t fly when it’s supposed to be completed on an iPad.
